When the Shokz OpenDots One launched in 2025, they quickly became my go-to open-ear clip-on earbuds. In fact, they’ve remained my favourite pair right up until now. So what changed? I got my hands on the Shokz OpenDots 2.
The OpenDots have become the earbuds I instinctively reach for. I wear them while writing reviews, editing photos, making coffee, answering the front door and helping the kids around the house. Because they’re open-ear, I never feel disconnected from what’s happening around me. That everyday convenience is why they’ve spent more time in my ears than any other earbuds I’ve reviewed.
Shokz OpenDots One vs OpenDots 2: What’s Changed?
The OpenDots 2 isn’t a radical departure from the original. If anything, the OpenDots 2 feels less like a sequel and more like a maturation of an already excellent product.
Shokz has tinkered with almost everything. Comfort, sound quality, microphones, charging, Bluetooth, water resistance and controls have all been improved. The only specification that remains unchanged is battery life. And frankly, I think that spec is already pretty good.
| Feature | Shokz OpenDots ONE | Shokz OpenDots 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | 2025 | 2026 |
| Design | Open-ear clip-on | Refined open-ear clip-on design |
| Audio technology | Bassphere, Dolby Audio and DirectPitch | Bassphere 2.0, Dolby Audio, DirectPitch and MirrorPitch |
| Sound quality | Balanced sound with good clarity | Fuller bass, wider soundstage and improved tuning |
| Drivers | Air-conduction driver system | Dual 11.8mm dynamic drivers |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Automatic left/right detection | Yes | Yes, with improved Dynamic Ear Detection |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-cancelling microphones | Triple-microphone system with air- and bone-conduction microphones |
| Call quality | Good | Improved clarity in noisy environments |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP57 |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Quick charging | 10 minutes provides up to 2 hours | 5 minutes provides up to 2 hours |
| Earbud battery life | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Total battery life | Up to 40 hours | Up to 40 hours |
| Earbud weight | Approximately 6.5g each | Approximately 6.4g each |
| Controls | Tap and squeeze gestures | Improved tap and squeeze controls with greater customisation |
| Low-latency mode | No | Yes |
| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes | Yes, with improved connection stability |
Shokz OpenDots 2 on the left vs Shokz OpenDots One on the right
Design and Comfort: Small Changes, Better Fit
The OpenDots One featured a JointArc made of flexible nickel-titanium. OpenDots 2 has refined the JointArc to better adapt to different ear shapes. Shokz claims it improves stability without increasing clamping force.
I have been using them constantly for the past week and they are as comfortable as ever. To be fair, I can’t honestly say I’ve noticed a dramatic improvement in stability over the original, simply because the OpenDots One already fit me exceptionally well.
Shokz also says the new contoured silicone adds support where it contacts the ear to keep the rest of the earbud thinner and lighter, and more evenly distributes pressure for longer wear.
One thing I’ve consistently heard whenever I’ve loaned my OpenDots One to friends or family is just how comfortable they are. More than once they’ve forgotten they were even wearing them.
The weight difference of 0.1g per earbud is negligible on paper. The improvement in comfort stems from the revised shape and pressure distribution rather than a lighter earbud.
It takes quite a bit of extended use of both the OG and OpenDots 2 to realise the improvements in comfort. It isn’t a dramatic revelation. Instead, the OpenDots 2 simply feel a little more polished, with subtle improvements to stability and long-term comfort.
Sound Quality: Fuller Bass and a Wider Soundstage
Shokz has claimed improvements to sound quality with the introduction of several technologies working together.
The first technology is Bassphere 2.0, where Shokz has redesigned the acoustic chamber around the dual 11.8mm drivers, coupled with an updated diaphragm. This is aimed to strengthen low-frequency performance, improve vibration stability and deliver deeper bass with less distortion.
The sound on the OpenDots One is excellent, especially for an open ear clip on type. Like I keep saying, they have been my go-to since their launch. On first listen with the OpenDots 2, it is quite apparent to me that the soundstage is wider, and the bass is stronger.
The stronger bass and wider soundstage create an immediate “wow” moment. Like most upgrades, though, that initial excitement fades after a little while. Not because the sound becomes any worse, but because it simply becomes your new normal.
Another new technology introduced to the OpenDots 2 is MirrorPitch. Shokz claims that it precisely directs sound towards the ear for greater clarity, richer audio and reduced sound
leakage.
MirrorPitch is much harder to isolate as an improvement because Bassphere 2.0 and the upgraded Dolby Audio are also working at the same time. I can certainly hear the richer presentation, but attributing that to MirrorPitch alone would be impossible.
Rather than sounding artificially spacious, Dolby Audio subtly expands the presentation. Music feels a little more open and podcasts have slightly more depth, but the effect isn’t overdone.
After using the OpenDots 2 for as much time as I could invest into this review, I have to agree that the listening experience does feel a little more immersive. This is more apparent with music over podcasts.
Controls and the Shokz App
I never seemed to have too much trouble with the controls on the OpenDots One. My brother did mention it though, that he did find it inconsistent to control.
It seems it is a big enough issue for Shokz to take notice, with the OpenDots 2 getting improved tap and squeeze controls.
Here is where things got fun for me. I am very used to the positioning of the OpenDots One and its controls. And for the first few days with the OpenDots 2, I keep missing the ends of the barrels where the controls are. I also never squeeze them enough because I didn’t have to do that with the OG.
It took a little getting used to, I have to hunt for the new position until I got used to it. The OpenDots 2’s gestures are pinch, pinch and hold and taps.
The pinch gestures seem to work quite consistently, as long as my fingers find the control. In the case of the OpenDots 2 though, the taps are quite inconsistent for me. And trying to tap a bit harder just moves the positioning of the ear buds out of whack.
The Shokz app is gives plenty of customisation options:
- Pinch x1
- Pinch x2
- Pinch and Hold
- Tap x2
- Tap x3
In app, you can change sensitivity of pinches but not taps. Go figure.
Call Quality and Sound Leakage Performance
The microphone system on the OpenDots 2 is a definite step up on paper. It sports a triple-microphone system with air- and bone-conduction microphones. In contrast, the OpenDots One had dual AI noise-cancelling microphone.
I gave the microphone a pretty thorough testing. Teams calls, voice calls, different environments.
The OpenDots One already offered solid call quality in the right environments, and the OpenDots 2 did not disappoint. The general consensus is that voice is more natural sounding.
Even in a noisier environment – street noises, fans, background noise in an office, The OpenDots 2 consistently delivered clearer voice reproduction than the original. Although with a bit of heavy lifting on noise cancelling, sometimes the voice can be a little tinny.
The addition of the bone-conduction microphone means the earbuds capture your voice directly through vibrations as well as through the air microphones. This provides the AI noise reduction with a much cleaner voice signal to work with.
The Achilles’ Heel is still wind noise. I expect that this will remain a technical challenge in this particular format.
The upgraded microphone array is a worthwhile improvement, although wind noise remains its biggest weakness.
I also gave the sound leakage a test. Even when I cranked up the volume a bit, you have to stand pretty close to pick up the sound. It was actually quite good.
Features: Bluetooth 6.1, Dynamic Ear Detection and Low Latency Mode
As is the case with the OpenDots One, the OpenDots 2 does not care which earbud goes in which ear. Shokz now call it Dynamic Ear Detection and it is cool.
Say if you dropped your OpenDots 2 on the ground, earbuds fly out and you have no idea which is the left and right. With Dynamic Ear Detection, you don’t have to care which is left or right. You just pop them on your ear and within a second, the OpenDots 2 will figure itself out.
Bluetooth has been upgraded from 5.4 to 6.1. While that sounds like a significant leap, the real-world benefits are mostly behind the scenes, focusing on power efficiency and future compatibility rather than dramatic improvements you’ll immediately notice.
During my testing I did experience a couple of brief connection dropouts. They resolved themselves within a second or two and were infrequent enough that I wouldn’t consider them a major issue, but they’re worth mentioning.
The OpenDots 2 also has a new Low Latency Mode. Does it work or is it marketing?
The good news is, there is some noticeable difference. I was watching Jackie Brown during part of this review, and I was noticing that the lip movement and audio were a little out of sync. By switching on the low latency mode, that issue went away.
It’s a small feature, but one that video watchers and casual gamers will appreciate.
Battery Life and Charging
One thing I appreciate is that Shokz didn’t fix what wasn’t broken.
Battery life remains at an excellent 10 hours, and 40 hours with the case. Wireless charging made a return which means I can just dump it on a Qi compatible charger and let it top up whenever I am near one.
Quick charge has seen a significant improvement, with just five minutes needed to give two hours of play time. This is down from ten minutes on the OpenDots One.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Shokz OpenDots 2 Review Verdict
The OpenDots One was already my favourite pair of clip-on earbuds, so it was a difficult task convincing me there was room for improvement.
Rather than chasing a flashy redesign, Shokz has refined almost every aspect of the experience. The OpenDots 2 sound better, calls are clearer, comfort has been subtly improved, and thoughtful additions like Low Latency Mode and Bluetooth 6.1 help future-proof the platform.
None of these changes are revolutionary on their own, but together they create a noticeably more polished product.
If you already own the OpenDots One, I wouldn’t call this a must-upgrade. The original remains an excellent pair of earbuds, especially when on discount. However, if you’re buying your first pair of clip-on earbuds, or you spend a lot of time on calls, the OpenDots 2 comfortably takes over from the original as the best clip-on earbuds I’ve used.
The Shokz OpenDots 2 will be available from 23 July 2026 in Pearl White and Grey and Black from the Shokz website directly. It will be available via the Shokz Amazon Store and exclusively to JB Hi-Fi until 23 August.
From 23 August 2026, it will be available through JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and other participating Australian retailers.
Limited Edition Accessories for Early Buyers
Shokz has also introduced a range of limited-edition jewellery-inspired accessories for the OpenDots 2.
Designed to personalise the earbuds and further position them as a lifestyle accessory rather than just another pair of earbuds, the clip-on accessories attach to the outside of the earbuds without affecting their functionality.
They are available as a complimentary gift with purchase through the official Shokz website and selected retail partners, while stocks last.
Shokz has confirmed the accessories will not be sold separately, making them an exclusive launch bonus for early buyers.
I think these are a cute way to personalise the OpenDots 2. There is one obvious drawback though: the charging case won’t close properly while the accessories are attached, meaning you’ll need to remove them before charging or storing the earbuds.
